Just a few weeks ago, protesters marched through the Michigan Capitol claiming that Republicans were trying to subvert the will of voters and seize power from the Democrats who had just been elected governor, attorney general and secretary of state.
The protesters’ worst fears did not come to fruition.
On Friday, Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican whose eight-year tenure ends next week, vetoed a bill that would have allowed lawmakers to intervene in court cases, a measure seen as an effort to dilute the authority of the new Democrats. Other legislation that would have stripped power from incoming officials never made it to a floor vote.
The results gave Michigan Democrats some measure of relief, though they were not at all thrilled with what had happened in recent weeks. Mr. Snyder also signed or vetoed dozens of other bills this week passed by lawmakers during their busy, contentious lame-duck session.
“Some of the ones that he vetoed, we are a little surprised that he vetoed,” State Representative Adam Zemke, a Democrat, said. “And so that’s a positive thing.”
WH0_what_where on December 30th, 2018 at 16:26 UTC »
I live in Michigan. Tried to contact governor a few weeks ago about all the lame duck bills on his desk.
Constituent Services has been shut down since NOVEMBER 15.
During that period, he reviewed hundreds of bills, and signed a whole lot more than he vetoed.
If constituent services (the department that manages communication from citizens to the governor) cannot operate less than 2 weeks after the election, shouldn’t the governor’s right to sign bills also stop?
letdogsvote on December 30th, 2018 at 13:24 UTC »
Michigan had the chance to be like Wisconsin, and realized nobody wants to be like Wisconsin.
Except maybe Alabama or Georgia.
shillyshally on December 30th, 2018 at 13:19 UTC »
"In recent years, lame-duck bills to strip authority from newly elected Democrats have become part of the partisan playbook in Republican-controlled states. But Mr. Snyder’s approach to those measures contrasted sharply with that of Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, who proudly signed farther-reaching legislation this month, and of former Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina, who approved similar bills in 2016. In left-leaning states like New Jersey, Democrats have tested their own strategies to consolidate power."
Last week there was a bit on NPR about NJ Dems trying to gerrymander NJ in their favor - and it was squashed by - DRUMROLL - Democrats.